site.btaDeputy Prime Minister Gabriel, Belgian Ambassador Meris Host Cardiovascular Health Conference

Cardiovascular diseases are a serious challenge to public health in Europe, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mariya Gabriel said on Thursday at a conference on "Cardiovascular Health in Europe: Challenges and Perspectives". Gabriel is hosting the event in partnership with Belgian Ambassador Frederic Meris and the Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium in Bulgaria.

The aim of the forum is to bring together health experts at national and European level, representatives of the European Union (EU) institutions, scientists and academics to discuss putting cardiovascular health at the centre of the European discourse.

Ensuring effective prevention and treatment is a shared commitment that reflects the values and priorities of our society. This is why it is so important to join forces in providing equal access to healthcare, developing sustainable health systems and innovative solutions, said Gabriel.

She noted that there have been significant medical advances in recent years, yet cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide and the number one cause of death in the EU. There are more than 6 million new cases and more than 1.8 million deaths related to cardiovascular disease each year in the EU, Gabriel said. She pointed out that mortality rates due to cardiovascular diseases in Bulgaria are among the highest in the EU.